Programmable controller for controlling automatic machines, having CPU to received control with respect to own apparatus, when external storage is authenticated based on authentication information

Abstract

A programmable controller according to an embodiment includes a connection interface, a storage, and a controller. The connection interface can be connected with an external storage. The storage stores information for authentication. The controller accepts control for the programmable controller when the external storage is connected to the connection interface and the external storage is authenticated based on identification information stored in the external storage and the information for authentication.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A programmable controller comprising:
 a connection interface connectable with an external storage; 
 a storage that stores information for authentication; 
 an emergency stop operation element, the emergency stop operation element being a hardware switch set on a surface of the programmable controller; and 
 a controller that makes an emergency stop control from the emergency stop operation element acceptable over the programmable controller when the external storage has been authenticated based on identification information stored in the external storage and the information for authentication, when the external storage has been connected to the connection interface, 
 wherein the controller further controls the programmable controller corresponding to a fact that the external storage has been connected when the external storage is authenticated, 
 wherein the controller further executes a command stored in the external storage when the external storage is authenticated based on the identification information stored in the external storage and the information for authentication, when the external storage storing the command is connected to the connection interface, and 
 wherein the controller further executes the command associated with the identification information corresponding to the programmable controller is stored in the external storage, when the external storage is authenticated based on one of a plurality of items of the identification information, and the information for authentication, when the external storage is connected to the connection interface, the external storage storing the plurality of items of identification information corresponding to a plurality of programmable controllers, the one being corresponding to the programmable controller. 
 
     
     
       2. The programmable controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller does not accept the emergency stop control from the emergency stop operation element when the identification information is not stored in the external storage or when the external storage is not authenticated based on the identification information and the information for authentication, when the external storage is connected to the connection interface. 
     
     
       3. The programmable controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication interface communicable with an external programming device, wherein 
 the storage stores the information for authentication received through the communication interface from the external programming device that writes the identification information to the external storage.